System and method for displaying two-dimensional data on small screen devices

• US 7,358,960 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Mak, Mingchi Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh; Duc Q
• Application Number:
  US10/285,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20040085289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,993 Days
• Field of Search: 345/661, 345/665, 345/663, 345/169, 345/161, 345 11- 13, 715720-723, 715/797, 715/804, 715817-819, 715/845, 715783-791, 379/201.04
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display

Abstract

An invention is provided for displaying two-dimensional data on small screen devices. The invention includes providing a first data set display section on a screen, which is capable of presenting a list of entries in a first data set. In addition, a second data set display section is provided on the screen. The second data set display section is capable of presenting a particular entry from a second data set associated with a selected entry from the first data set. In operation, a new entry from the second data set is presented in the second data set display section in response to receiving a navigation command related to the second data set. The new entry is associated with the selected entry from the first data set.

Claims

1. A method for displaying two-dimensional data on small screen devices, comprising the operations of:

providing a first data set display section on a screen, the first data set display section capable of presenting a list of entries in a first data set, the first data set being arranged in a first dimension of the two-dimensional data;

providing a second data set display section on the screen, the second data set display section capable of presenting only one of a particular entry from a second data set associated with a selected entry from the first data set, the second data set being arranged in a second dimension of the two-dimensional data, and wherein the second data set display section on the screen being separate from each of the entries in the first data set and presenting of the particular entry from the second data set does not graphically affect the list of entries in the first data set that are displayed at the same time the particular entry of the second data set is displayed, in the second data set display section; and

presenting only one of a new entry from the second data set in the second data set display section in response to receiving a navigation command related to the second data set and the navigation command being in the second dimension of the two-dimensional data, the new entry being associated with the selected entry from the first data set.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the operation of providing a selection indicator in the first data set display section, the selection indicator indicating the selected entry from the first data set.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, further comprising the operation of moving the selection indicator among entries in the first data set in response to receiving a navigation command related to the first data set.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein left and right directional keys provide navigation commands related to the second data set, and wherein up and down directional keys provide navigation commands related to the first data set.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein left and right joystick movement provides navigation commands related to the second data set, and wherein up and down joystick movement provides navigation commands related to the first data set.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first data set comprises a plurality of name entries for an electronic phonebook.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the second data set comprises a plurality of phone numbers related to the name entries of the first data set.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the second data set further comprises a plurality of email addresses related to the name entries of the first data set.

9. A small screen device capable of displaying two-dimensional data on small screen devices, comprising:

a screen having a first data set display section and a second data set display section that is separate from the first data set display section, wherein the first data set display section is capable of presenting a list of entries in a first data set, and wherein the second data set display section is capable of presenting a single one of a particular entry from a second data set associated with a selected entry from the first data set, and presenting the particular entry from the second data set does not graphically affect the list of entries in the first data set; and

navigation controls capable of providing navigation commands, wherein a single one of a new entry from the second data set is presented in the second data set display section in response to receiving a navigation command related to the second data set, the new entry being associated with the selected entry from the first data set.

10. A small screen device as recited in claim 9, further comprising a selection indicator positioned in the first data set display section, the selection indicator indicating the selected entry from the first data set.

11. A small screen device as recited in claim 10, wherein the selection indicator is moved among entries in the first data set in response to receiving a navigation command related to the first data set.

12. A small screen device as recited in claim 9, wherein the navigation controls include left and right directional keys that provide navigation commands related to the second data set, and up and down directional keys that provide navigation commands related to the first data set.

13. A small screen device as recited in claim 9, wherein the navigation controls include a joystick, wherein left and right joystick movements provide navigation commands related to the second data set, and wherein up and down joystick movements provide navigation commands related to the first data set.

14. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for causing a computer system to perform a method for displaying two-dimensional data on small screen devices, the method comprising:

providing a first data set display section on a screen, the first data set display section capable of presenting a list of entries in a first data set, the first data set being arranged in a first dimension of the two-dimensional data;

providing a second data set display section on the screen, the second data set display section capable of presenting only one of a particular entry from a second data set associated with a selected entry from the first data set, the second data set being arranged in a second dimension of the two-dimensional data, and wherein the second data set display section on the screen being separate from each of the entries in the first data set and presenting of the particular entry from the second data set does not graphically affect the list of entries in the first data set that are displayed at the same time the particular entry of the second data set is displayed, in the second data set display section; and

providing only one of a new entry from the second data set in the second data set display section in response to receiving a navigation command related to the second data set and the navigation command being in the second dimension of the two-dimensional data, the new entry being associated with the selected entry from the first data set.

15. A computer program as recited in claim 14, further comprising providing a selection indicator in the first data set display section, the selection indicator indicating the selected entry from the first data set.

16. A computer program as recited in claim 15, further including moving the selection indicator among entries in the first data set in response to receiving a navigation command related to the first data set.

17. A computer program as recited in claim 16, wherein left and right directional keys provide navigation commands related to the second data set, and wherein up and down directional keys provide navigation commands related to the first data set.

18. A computer program as recited in claim 16, wherein left and right joystick movements provide navigation commands related to the second data set, and wherein up and down joystick movements provide navigation commands related to the first data set.

19. A computer program as recited in claim 16, wherein the first data set comprises a plurality of name entries for an electronic phonebook.

20. A computer program as recited in claim 19, wherein the second data set comprises a plurality of phone numbers and email addresses related to the name entries of the first data set.